A REQUIRED INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ALBANIA

Abstract

Abstract  
Local development became visible in a rather sudden way in the middle of the 1980s. It was the result of the conjunction of a particular 
economic (crisis of the traditional industries, widespread emergence of the services economy), social (persistent unemployment, new 
social exclusion forms in the cities) and political climate (decentralization, crisis of the central Welfare State, European integration). Local 
development is intrinsically associated with a multidimensional concept of change bringing together economic, social, cultural and 
environmental dimensions; with innovation across and in the spaces between these dimensions. It may be seen as a method which helps 
improving quality of life, supporting or accelerating empowerment of ordinary people, developing or preserving local assets, overcoming 
market failures, strengthening cohesion, and defining and delivering grass-root development projects ( EC: 2009 : 6). Based on the above, 
a comprehensive definition of local development may be retained according to its strategic goals, whether based on inputs, outputs or 
outcomes. This volume aims to highlight many exciting innovations for sustainable development in Albania at the local level. It also begins 
to assess the scope for scaling up these innovations to make an impact on a larger scale. The case studies here are only a sample. Many 
more could have been included but for space constraints. An effort has been made to identify some of the most interesting and promising 
innovations for this volume. Local governmental institutions in Albania are facing difficulties regarding the relation with central power, 
corruption, non-availability to collect taxes and other financial benefits, and these factors cause the instability in governing. Moreover, the 
sustainable economic development is possible only provided that the rules of play are adjusted to managers with average capabilities. 
In this context the economic and regional development in Albania is impeded by two factors: inadequate development of local self
governments and unfavorable business environment. This paper introduces the main causes of these problems, and tries to designate 
some possible solutions which, if put in practice, are thought to improve considerably the situation of local government.